Many turn out to support Berks HopeCuts fundraiser

Bella Lina Salon co-owner Heidi DiDea cuts the hair of Stephanie Scheifley of Adamstown during Sunday's HopeCuts, a beauty industry event to raise funds for City of Hope National Medical Center in California.

Droves of people showed support for medical research and treatment at salons around the country, including Berks County, on Sunday afternoon.

Bella Lina Salon in Sinking Spring participated in HopeCuts, inviting families for a day of food, fun and fashion to benefit people suffering from life-threatening illnesses.

HopeCuts is a countrywide beauty industry event to raise funds for City of Hope National Medical Center. City of Hope is a cancer, diabetes and AIDS research hospital in Duarte, Calif.

"It was fantastic today," said Heidi DiDea, co-owner of Bella Lina with her husband, Michael. "HopeCuts is a great organization to be a part of. They were with us every step of the way."

The day was filled with pedicures, haircuts for men and women, face-painting, food and a fashion show.

"All of the models were either survivors, family of survivors or family of people who have died," DiDea said.

DiDea also said part of the reason she participated in the event was because both of her grandmothers died of cancer.